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First of all I'd just like to apologise for making yet another thread about probably a very similar situation to someone previously 'charged' by UK CPM. However, after reading many different posts and the NEWBIE thread I'm still unsure how exactly I should move forward with this.

I've come to understand it's no longer a good idea to just out right ignore the 'invoice' as soon as you get it, this was always how I thought this should be handled. When did this change?

So, the story.. I was looking for parking at my local Tesco Metro (located on a small piece of land that shares with two other stores, a loan shop and a restaurant) and the car park was full, so I parked outside the front of the restaurant (this is still on the car park, just not within a bay). This is a routine thing that happens, you'd be hard pressed to find a time or day when someone isn't parked there as there are often 2-3 cars parked in that area outside of a bay. Looking at the photo of my car it appears one of my wheels may have JUST been in a yellow hatched box, however I'm not sure if that's the problem or if it's just being out of a bay. Having received this letter I didn't think there were any signs showing the restrictions but it appears they do exist quite high up. Everyone I've spoken to about this has been surprised there were signs as each thought they didn't exist. Having looked on google maps, the signs were not present as of June 2016 so this must be a rather new thing they've put in place.

Anyway, yes I was parked outside of a bay and yes I may have been slightly within a yellow hatched box, but I was not blocking any entrances and it was for a maximum or five minutes. The reason I've commented is because I'm not sure if I have a leg to stand on with this?

Looking through the forums it seems the course of action required is to appeal using the generic IPC letter with the 8 points. This appeal will they most definitely be rejected, and then I should do what? Is that the point I begin ignoring them or should I appeal to the IAS first? Is there any point I should contact the restaurant I was parked outside of and see if they will cancel it?

Many thanks guys and girls, sorry again if you've heard all this before. I just need a push in the right direction is all!

Looking through the forums it seems the course of action required is to appeal using the generic IPC letter with the 8 points. This appeal will they most definitely be rejected, and then I should do what?

”

Nothing. It's just often advised not to ignore it, we find, not look like a victim with their head in the sand.

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Is that the point I begin ignoring them

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Yes, and ignore debt collector letters! Come back if you get a claim (rare) or solicitor's letter.

So, I went to the restaurant and they claimed it's nothing to do with them and I should take my issue up with Tesco next door. So I spoke to the staff in Tesco and they claimed the restaurant owner is the one doing this! Basically lot's of finger pointing going on!

Funnily enough, when I was speaking to the (presumed) manager of the restaurant, someone interrupted us recording on his phone asking if the manager had any affiliation with the restaurant.. which he denied. When asked a second time if he has anything to do with the restaurant at all, he again replied no! So this tells me something dodgey is going on!

I checked the signs at Tesco and they have printed out A4 pieces of paper with a bit of text on and stuck these to some of the windows, I was surprised to hear they'd been put up months ago.. don't recall ever seeing them!

Anyway, looks like I'll have to go through with the appeal then, by the way the Tesco staff said anyone who's got one has just ignored it. Why is this opposed compared to doing an appeal you know will get rejected? How does it affect the process differently? If anything, by opening up communication with them am I not just giving them someone to bother?

The IPC template letter I should send.. should it more or less be a direct copy and paste job? Or should I detail it towards my situation a bit? One argument I have is the first picture is of my number plate up close and nothing else, the second is of the shop I'm parked next to and you can't even see my car as it's too dark. Should I claim the photo evidence isn't sufficient enough?

It's just better not to ignore it, we find, not look like a victim with their head in the sand.

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Some parking firms sue and we find many of those parking firms are more likely to cherry-pick ignorers, in the hope that person panics and pays or ignores & gets a CCJ by default.

Secondly, if a case ever goes to a small claim (defendable!) then a Judge will be more impressed with a Defendant who reasonably responded early on, stating from the outset that they are not liable as the keeper of the car and asking for further information, which, if the PPC doesn't provide it, makes THEM look unreasonable, which isn't difficult with this industry! Maintain that moral high ground then ignore daft debt collector missives!

Would this be in an area in Blackburn by any chance? I've just received one of these letters this morning. Apparently the contravention took place on 50th October and the letter was sent out on 11th October saying I've got 14 days to pay. The picture shows that I'm not actually parked in the yellow box, so not sure I've actually parked incorrectly. Incidentally, I've never noticed any signs either. Going to have another look next time I go down. Have you heard any more? Did you appeal?

Would this be in an area in Blackburn by any chance? I've just received one of these letters this morning. Apparently the contravention took place on 50th October and the letter was sent out on 11th October saying I've got 14 days to pay. The picture shows that I'm not actually parked in the yellow box, so not sure I've actually parked incorrectly. Incidentally, I've never noticed any signs either. Going to have another look next time I go down. Have you heard any more? Did you appeal?

Would this be in an area in Blackburn by any chance? I've just received one of these letters this morning. Apparently the contravention took place on xxth October and the letter was sent out on 11th October saying I've got 14 days to pay.

The picture shows that I'm not actually parked in the yellow box, so not sure I've actually parked incorrectly. Incidentally, I've never noticed any signs either. Going to have another look next time I go down. Have you heard any more? Did you appeal?

After huge backlash from the local community since 100s of people are getting these PCNs suddenly the signs on the car park have changed, they have now added signs to the entrance! Is this something you can use in a defence? Clearly they didn't think the signs were clear enough, so they added more in a better place!

However, they have ignored my initial appeal and since I didn't use any special delivery that proves I sent them a letter.. I'm short on appeal proof! Should I resend the letter with proof from the post office, or with recorded delivery?

After huge backlash from the local community since 100s of people are getting these PCNs suddenly the signs on the car park have changed, they have now added signs to the entrance! Is this something you can use in a defence? Clearly they didn't think the signs were clear enough, so they added more in a better place!

However, they have ignored my initial appeal and since I didn't use any special delivery that proves I sent them a letter.. I'm short on appeal proof! Should I resend the letter with proof from the post office, or with recorded delivery?

The NEWBIES thread tells you to send from a Post Office counter, first class , and obtain a free proof of posting. If this is what you did then you have no problem as a letter is lawfully deemed to have been delivered by day 2.

You shouldn't send anything recorded or special delivery as they could refuse to sign for it and thus have proof it was never delivered.

Hi guys, thanks for all the advice and I thought I'd give a quick update and ask your opinion on something.

I sent the template IPC appeal letter and they have just got back to me declining it (shock!). I am now in a position to just wait it out I guess!

A couple of things I just wanted to get your take on however in case this ever got more serious. First of all there are probably in the region of atleast 300 people who have received these fines suddenly in the past couple of months and likely more and more getting them every single day as I still see people marking outside the bays most times I drive past. Does the sheer volume of people who received a fine in such a small amount of time possibly say something about the clarity of the parking situation? Like maybe that's proof it's not clear enough signage? And is this something that would be useful evidence if it went to court?

Secondly, after speaking to the local MP he has informed me that after increasing pressure from the local council regarding the situation CPM have added more signs to the car park including one on entrance. He says this is an admission of guilt by CPM as it shows their signs were clearly not good enough in the first place and so more have been added. Again, is this an argument that could be used if it ever went to court?

I've had probably 3 letters from a debt recovery agency who has been giving me the same old threatening rubbish, I've just ignored the letters.

However, I got a letter from Gladstone Solicitors today. It starts with:

"You have previously been written to by Debt Recovery Plus on behalf of UK Car Park Management Ltd requesting settlement of your outstanding parking charge. Due to the absence of payment or a valid appeal our client has instructed us to recover the total amount due to them as shown above. As all other attempts have failed, our client may now instruct us to take legal action against you............"

That's only a snippet of the letter, giving you a taste of what it's about.

My first thought is that I'm one of the unlucky ones they've decided to actually take action against, is that the case? Or is this still the same scare tactic that everyone else will deal with? How likely is it I'll receive another letter in a month asking me to go to court?

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